Safety step for beds



Q Y 14, 9 w. A. HILLENBRAND ETAL 2,644,961

SAFETY STEP FOR BEDS Filed July 21. 1948 H I 1M4, BM Loo-'4 0- 9; 611M ATTORNEYS.

Patented July 14, 1953 SAFETY STEP FOR Buns William A. Hillenbrand, Franklin County,' and Francis J. Burst, 'Batesville, Ind., assignors to Hill-Rom Company,.Inc., 'Batesville, Ind., a corporation of Indiana Application July 21, 1948, Serial No. 39,896

This invention relates to invalid beds for hospital and sick room use. More specifically the in vention resides in a safety step mounted upon the frame of the bed at one side to assist the patient in entering or leaving the bed.

Hospital beds, of the type for which the safety step is designed, are higher than conventional beds for the convenience of the physician and nurse in making bedside examinations and in treating and handling the patient. For this reason it is difficult and dangerous for an invalid to enter or leave the bed withoutassistance. One expedient has been to provide a foot stool which may be placed alongside the bedwhen the patient wishes to rise. However, this arrangement is inconvenient since it is necessary to ring for an attendant or nurse to place thestool in position. Moreover, the invalid usually requires help because such stools are unstable and dangerous and provide nothing by which the patient may steady himself. By reason of the present day technique of getting patients on their feet as soon as possible aftera surgical operation, hospital attendants and nurses spend more time than. formerly in helping patients to and from their beds.

The present invention contemplates the use of a safety step of ample size which forms a part of the bed frame and which provides a sturdy intermediate step between bed and'fioor, preferably including a hand hold to'aidthe patient in getting into or out of bed without assistance. While the patient may require some outside assistance on first leaving his bed, the improved step arrangement permits him safely to help himself as soon as he regains sufilcient strength.

A primary object of the invention therefore has been to provide a structure which may be secured to the frame of the bed to provide a step which is sturdy, rigid and of ample size to permit a weakened person conveniently and with assurance to climb into and out of the bed.

A further object has been to provide a safety step of this nature which is shiftable so asnor mally to occupy an out-of-way position, but which may readily be shifted to its extended posltion'of use and which may be detached from the bed when it is not needed.

Still another object has been to provide a step frame which maybe attached permanently toa bed frame, together with a detachable step which may be applied to the frame at either side of the bed.

The present structure has been designed for use in conjunction with a demountable irrigator rod whereby the irrigator rod serves either as a 6 Claims; (Cl. 5--31'7) hand hold or serves its arranged to provide a-socket for maintaining the irrigator rod in its position for use and the frame provides means for stowing the irrigator rod when itis not in use. This structure is disclosed in the co-pending application of William A. Hillenbrand and Francis J. Burst, Serial No. 738,776, now

abandoned, the present improvement being preferably applied to bed frames so equipped. The demountable irrigating rod and detachablesafety step therefore mutually cooperate with each other to provide a safe and useful structure for assisting the patient. It will be apparent however, thatthe step may be utilized without-the irrigator rod if the condition of the patient so warrants.

Further advantages of the improved structure are -more clearly disclosed in the specification with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: i g

Figure 1 is a perspective view illustrating a hospital bed equipped with the improved'safety step with the step in its extended position and the irrigator rod erected to serve as a hand hold. Figure 2 is a cross section taken on line 2-2, Figure -1, further detailing the structural features of the safety step and its application to the side rails of the bed frame.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary sectional view similar to Figure 2, showing the step in folded position;

Figure 4 is a fragmentary side elevation of a portion of the bed withthe safety step shown in extended position. 3

Figure 5 is a fragmentary perspective view detailing the attachment of the mounting'structure and safetyv step.

an articulated spring frame which may be adjusted by means of cranks .to assume various angles for the comfort of the patient. A mattress, articulated to. conform to the spring frame, is placed upon the spring frame. The spring frame is arranged so that the head section of the mattress may be elevated at an angle relative to'the bed frame to maintain the upper portion of the body in a reclining position. The foot section of the spring frame is in two sectionspivotally Y joined together and adjustable angularly relative usual function in treating the patient. The bed frame is constructed andto each other so as to support the legs of the patient in a natural position most conducive to comfort and relaxation. Intermediate the head and foot sections is a fixed spring frame and mattress section. The safety step preferably is located at this point so that the patient may enter or leave the bed when the sections are elevated, using this section of the mattress as a seat. The spring frame structure and adjustment means are not essential to the present invention, and therefore are not detailed in the drawings.

Referring to Figure l, the bed comprises generally a bed post structure at the head and foot of the bed, indicated at I and l I. These are connected together by a pair of longitudinal angle iron side rails |2--l2. The articulated spring frame is shown in lowered position in Figure l and is indicated generally at l3. The frame is rectangular in form and is fabricated from angle irons as shown in Figure 2, resting upon the side rails l2-|2. The mattress I4 is supported upon a wire network l5, anchored to sprin frame H by a series of tension springs l6.

Intermediate the length of the side rails l2--l2 is secured a pair of angle brackets l1-|1 which support the adjacent pivoted ends of the adjustable head and foot sections of spring frame l3. The head and foot sections of the spring frame are pivotally connected to bracket IT by means of pivot pins I8-I8 and the articulated foot sections are connected together by means of a pivot pin indicated at i9.' The mattress in the area indicated at between the pivot pins I8|8 remains flat when the head and foot sections are elevated and thus forms a seat for the patient as above noted.

As disclosed in the co-pending application, the irrigator rod 2| is mounted by means of a socket 22 formed in the angle bracket [1. The angle bracket includes an upper web 23 as shown in Figure 2 and the socket 22 is disposed beneath this web to the inside of bracket H, an opening being formed through the web 23 to permit the irrigating rod to be slipped into the socket. This unit serves either as an irrigator rod in treating the patient or as a hand rail to assist the patient into and out of the bed, in conjunction with the safety step. When not in use the irrigatin rod may be stowed beneath the bed in the manner described in the aforesaid co-pending application.

The safety step, indicated generally at 24, preferably is located in line with bracket I! so as to properly be related to the stationary seat portion 20 of the mattress as previously noted. Thus, in the event that the bed is adjusted with the head and foot sections elevated, the patient may enter or leave the bed conveniently.

Described in detail, the safety step is supported by a pair of trussed frame structures indicated generally at 26-46 secured to the side rails l2-l 2 of the bed frame (Figures 2 and 4). These frames extend cross-wise of the bed on opposite sides of the step 24, spaced to receive the step frame therebetween. Each frame structure 26 constitutes a pair of spaced and vertically disposed mounting bars 21-21 formed preferably from angle irons. Braces 28-48 extend cross-wise of the bed between the respective pairs of mounting bars 2l-21 so as to rigidly truss them. The braces 28 preferably are in the form of angle irons with their opposite ends secured by rivets or by welding to the mounting bars. The upper ends of the mounting bars 212| are joined to the side rails I2 of the bed frame by pairs of angle brackets 30-40 bolted as at 3| to the side rail I2 and riveted to the respective mounting bars 21 (Figure 5). It will be apparent that by virtue of the cross bracing 2B, the respective pairs of mounting bars 21 mutually reinforce each other so as to provide a firm support for the safety step 24.

The safety step is removably attached to the frames 26 so that the frame structure 26 may form a permanent part of the bed frame while the safety step conveniently may be removed when not in use. Described in detail, the safety step is mounted upon a frame in the form of a pair of vertical hangers 3232 adapted to nest with mounting bars 21-2'I. The hangers 3232 are detachably secured to the mounting bars 2'I2| by means of headed shoulder rivets 33 which are riveted to the bars 21. Two rivets are provided in each mounting bar 21 and each step hanger 32 is provided with a pair of bayonet slots 34 arranged to engage the heads 35 of the rivets. The bayonet slots are so arranged that the safety step frame may be raised and the hangers 32 disengaged from the heads 35 to permit removal of the safety step from the bed. Both pairs of mounting bars 2i21 preferably are equipped with rivets 33 so that the step assembly may be applied to either side of the bed. When the safety step is replaced, the heads 35 are slipped through the enlarged portion of the bayonet slot then lowered so that the narrow portion of the slot engages the shank of the rivet while the heads lock the hangers against removal. The hangers 32-32 of the safety step are maintained in spaced relationship by means of a cross brace 35 which extends between the hangers with its ends secured to the hangers by welding or rivet- The safety step 24 preferably is in the form of a wood panel mounted between the lower ends of the hangers 32. The step may selectively be extended to an operating position as shown in Figure 2 or it may be folded out of way as shown in Figure 3. For this purpose it is pivotally mounted by means of pivot pins 3|31 passing through the lower ends of the respective hangers 32. The pivot pins 31 are mounted upon U- shaped reinforcing brackets 38 embracing the opposite edges of the step 24 at the inner end of the step (Figure 1). Since the step preferably is formed of wood the U-shaped brackets reinforce the step at its pivoted end so that the stresses are somewhat distributed. The step is secured to the respective brackets by means of wood screws 40.

In order to maintain the step in its horizontal position as shown in Figure 2, the lower ends of hangers 32-32 are arranged to provide a stop. This stop is formed, in each instance, by cutting away the inner web dl of the angle iron from which the hanger is fabricated so as to provide a ledge 42 (see Figure 5). The other web 43 extends downwardly over the bracket 33 so as to provide a journal for the pivot pin 31. It will be apparent that the portion of the bracket 38 which extends rearwardly beyond the pivot point l Swing upwardly to e g the ledge 42 to maintain the step in its horizontal position as shown In ure 5. This provides a support for the p of ple strength to maintain safely g f i g i t ofhthe patient and imparts a degree rlgl iy w ich adds materi of e patientally to the safety It will be observed that the safety step as a unit may be installed on the mounting bars 21 extending underneath the bed slipped from its socket and stowed beneath the bed when not in use.

Having described our invention, we claim:

1. The combination of a bed of the type having longitudinal side rails and a frame structure having its opposite ends secured to the respective longitudinal side rails and extending underneath the bed crosswise thereof, said frame structure including a pair of vertically disposedmo-unting bars at one end thereof and a similar pair of mounting bars at the other end thereof, a pair of hangers, a step panel mounted upon the hangers, and means for removably fastening said pair of hangers selectively to either of the pairs of mounting bars.

2. The combination of a bed frame, a'pair of I mounting bars secured to one side of the bed frame, a second pair of mounting bars secured to the opposite side of said bed frame, cross braces interconnecting saidpairs of mounting bars, a step frame, a step panel pivotally mounted upon the step frame, said step panel adapted to be selectively adjusted to an extended or a re-.

tracted position, and meansfor'removably fastening said step frame selectively to either pair of mounting bars.

3. The combinationof a bed of the type having longitudinal side rails and a frame structure secured at its opposite endsto the respective longitudinal side rails and extending underneath the bed crosswise thereof, saidframe structure including mounting means at both ends thereof,

a step frame, a step panel mounte'd'upon said step frame, and means for removably fastening said step frame selectively to the mounting means at either end of the frame structure.

4. The combination of a bed of the type having longitudinal side rails and a frame structure I Name I p 923,729 Taylor June 1, 1909 2 1,623,396 Roesch Apr. 16, 1912 1,199,553 Hogan i Sept. 26, 1916 1,373,151 Slabinski i Mar. 29, 1921 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 266,284 Italy July 25, 1929 Number crosswise thereof, said frame structure secured at its opposite ends to the respective side rails of the bed, mounting means at opposite ends of the frame structure, a step frame, a step panel pivotally'mounted upon said step frame and adapted to be selectively adjusted to an'extended or retracted position relative to the step frame, and means for removably fastening said step frame selectively to the mounting means at either end of the frame structure.

5. A safety step assembly for ahospital bed of the type having longitudinal side rails, said assembly comprising a frame structure adapted to be permanently secured at its opposite ends to the respective side rails of said'becL'said frame structure includinga pairof vertically disposed mounting bars at each end thereof, a step frame, said step frame including a pair of hangers and astep panel, and means for removably fastening said hangers selectively to the respective mounting'bars of either pair of mounting bars.

6. A safety step assembly adapted to be secured to a bed, said assembly comprising a frame structure having mounting means at opposite ends thereof, a step frame, a step panel adjustably mounted upon the step frame and adapted to be selectively adjusted to an extended or a retracted position relative thereto, and means for removably fasteningsaid step frame selectively to either of said mounting means.

WILLIAM A. 'HILLENBRAND. FRANCIS J. BURST.

1 References Cited in-the me t this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Date 

